SANTOSH KUMARI Vs. STATE OF PUNJAB AND OTHERS

JUDGEMENT

(1.) IN view of the identical facts and common questions of law, these petitions are being disposed of by this common order.

(2.) All the petitioners are working in the Education Department of the State of Punjab. Petitioners in CWP Nos. 17450 of 2010 and 16723 of 2010 are working as Head Masters, whereas all other petitioners are working as Lecturers in different disciplines. All the petitioners are aggrieved of their non -promotion to the post of Principal. In some of the cases the claims of the petitioners have been rejected/ignored solely on the ground that they did not achieve the minimum required bench marks for promotion to the post of Principal. It is admitted case of the parties that persons junior to the petitioners from the cadre of Head Masters as also Lecturer have been promoted to the post of Principal, hence, the grievance of the petitioners in these petitions.

(3.) IN disputed facts are that there are more than 1500 sanctioned posts of Principals in Govt. Schools in the State of Punjab and hundred of posts are lying vacant, some even for a decade. The State -respondent had earlier expressed its inability to make promotions in view of some directions from this Court for a considerable period. Later the State was permitted to make promotions.